Accelerator pedal attachment



Sept. 5, 1950 H. B. RODD 2,521,606

ACCELERATOR PEDAL ATTACHMENT Filed April 15, 1947 INVEN TOR. H. B RODD FIG- 3 I {1/ Patented Sept. 5, 1950 UNIT ED STATES 6 Claims. 1

. This invention relates-to-improvements inadljustable foot operated throttle controls for -ye- \hicle engines and particularly to an improved adjustable attachment for a conventional ac- --celerator foot :pedal.

- The :acceler-ator pedals conventionally :pro-

:vided iIIIaHtQmQtiVE VGhiCIQS and particularly in automobiles haveonly a vsingle range o-foperattive movement and no provision for adjusting them to difierent types of .shoes Worn by vehicle drivers or to change the range of movement to relieve muscular fatigue during long continuous periods :of driving.

It is among the objectsof the present invention .to provide an adjustable accelerator pedal attachment which can be quickly and easily set .to operate at different angles .to-accommodate-vthe pedal. to shoesof different types, and particularly to diiferent heel heights of shoesworn by-persons driving .the vehicle to which the device is applied, "which is-simple and economical to-manufaoture, easy to. install ,byzclamping it to a :conventional acceleratorpedal, and which is quickly and easily adjustable by the operator to any one of several difierent operative angles while the vehicle to which it is applied is in motion.

' Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

' 1 is a side elevational view of the improved attachment applied to a conventional accelerator pedal, a portion being broken away and shown in section to better illustrate the construction thereof:

2, an exploded perspective viewofr the various components 'of-the attachment; and,

Fig. 3,an endelevational .viewof a fragmentary portion of the attachment looking toward the 'right hand end .as viewedin Fig. 1.

With continued reference to the drawing, the attachment comprises, in general, a :base plate '10 engageable rw-ithithe-conventional accelerator pedal il l, a foot plate I2 (pivotally connected-at .one end to thebase ,plate .byoa pivot pin 13, an adjustable clamp pin 14 and a :tensionzspring '15 connected between the rbase plate 40 and-the ..-under sidecoflthefoot plate ll 2.

' l The base plate 1.0 is preferably formed 'of suit- 'able sheetv metal .and comprises a-rectangular portion '15 which overliesthe rearwardor heel vportiono'f the ..conventionalpedal II and is of substantially the same width as the conventional h'accelerator pedal sand ran extension zor tongue "l 6? of less. width than the :portion l 6 extending PATENT O F F ICE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ATTACHMENT HoustonB; Rodd, 'lTrona, Calif.

Application April-=15, 1947, Serial N 0. 741,508

:iromwthe portion lfirtoward the toe endwfthe -.conv.entional pedal when the device isuin operaitiveposition and having itsed-ges offset inwardly from the corresponding edges of ithe-portion'illi.

A tab extends outwardlyanddownwardly frcinone edge of therextension 16'- andra similar tab-"l Bextends downwardly from-.one-longitudirial edge-of therectangular portionlB. These: tabs are: in longitudinal alignment-and have their -,lo.wer..ends bentsomewhat-inwardly ito 'ifirmly grip thelcorresponding side of the-pedal ll 1. A -.,pairof rectangular extensions l 9 :and 2!! aextend upwardlyifrom the longer edgesrof the rectanguall) . lar portion I hand. are i disposed substantially at right angles to the vrectangular portion adjacent thea-end thereofirom. which the-tab ,l 8; depends. e. Each! of theserectangular extensions iS-lfiPEMU-IEd, as indicated at 2|; and is provided at .its'tioraward end witha pluralitylof stepped :notchess22 and-23 respectively. In the arrangement shown there are two notches provided in the forwai'd [Land the adjacent end of 'sleeve -26 being cut awayto provide clearance :for a nut threaded wonto'abolt orcpinxextending through the-sleeve.

The foot plate I2 comprises a sheet nietalcore member 21::of spring steel or similar resilient material having a coverin 28 of rubber or some 'rsimilar'lmaterial which preferably overlies both "surfacesand sbothzedges thereof. "'The core 21 has a;-flat generally rectangular portion25 with -two elongated rectangular extensions 30 "and 3 I depending Itherefrom along the longer opposite :edgescat the heel end thereof, these extensions "30 :and 53 I- :being disposed substantially at right anglesitothe surface of the=portion 29 and spaced apart a idistance such that they fit between the extensions I9 and 20 on the base plateflll. The

.oore 12:! is also .prDVid'Ed-iWlthllWO small tabs 29' at its pivotedrend toeasily facilitate the anchoring of *the: rubber covering' '28. ""These extensions :30 and 31.. are provided in theirend portions at the heelrendort'he corem'ember with elongat- -z-ed .rapertures 32 which are preferably substantially' :parallel .to .the vgenerally rectangular portionw29gazand at "theinxforward -ends-=with "laterally extending lug members 33 and 34 which overlie the forward end portions of the extensions 22 and 23 when the member I2 is operatively associated with the member I0, a shown in Fig. 3. The tongue I6 lies between the lug members 33 and 34 so that the lug members do not contact the base plate I when the foot plate is in lowered position so that the foot plate will not be obstructed by the base plate.

Forming the core member 21 of spring steel or similar resilient material has several advantages among which is the elimination of the danger of the foot plate bein permanently bent by heavy foot pressure on the accelerator when the foot plate is held in an elevated position relative to the conventional accelerator pedal to which it is attached.

The pivot pin I3 has an externally screw threaded end portion 35 and at the opposite end a hook portion 36 which may conveniently be formed by bending the end portion of the pin to a position substantially at right angles to the major portion of the pin and then bending the tip of this end portion to a position substantially parallel to the major portion of the pin and sharpening the end of the tip portion. This pin I3 is inserted through the apertures 2| in the extensions 22 and 23 and through the elongated apertures 32 in the extensions and 3I of the member 21 to pivotally connect the members II and I2 together. The hook portion 36 is extended downwardly and is of a size to bring the sharpened tip end portion against the side of the conventional accelerator pedal H, as shown in Fig. 3. A nut 31 is then threaded upon the screw threaded end portion 35 of the pin I3 to force the sharpened tip end portion of the pin into the rubber covering of the accelerator pedal and tightly clamp the pedal.

between the hook 36 and the oppositely disposed dependin tab I8.

The pin I4 is provided with a hook 38 sim" ilar to the hook 36 of the pin I3 but somewhat smaller in size. This pin is inserted through the,

elongated eye or sleeve 26 formed on the memher I 0 and a nut 39 is threaded on the screw threaded end portion 40 thereof and bears against the adjacent end of the sleeve 26 to force the sharpened tip end portion of the hook 38 into the side of the pedal I I and clamp the pedal 4 ranged to exert a continuous downward and rearward pull on the toe-end of the foot plate [2. Intermediate its length the foot plate core 21 is provided with a lateral extension 42 which, when overlaid with the rubber covering 28, provides a lifting tab or knob as indicated at 43 in Fig. 3.

The attachment may be adjusted as follows, assuming that the foot plate I2 is in its lowermost position, in which it is substantially parallel to the accelerator pedal II, and it is desired to raise the foot plate to its first angular position above the foot pedal, the toe portion of the operators shoe is placed beneath the lift tab 43 and the foot plate I2 is raised against the force of spring I5 until the lugs 33 and 34 are opposite the lowest step in the front end portions of the extensions I9 and 20. The foot may then be moved somewhat rearwardly and the lifting pressure released whereupon the spring I5 will force the lugs into the lowest notch to rest upon the lowest horizontal step and will maintain the parts in this operative position until the adjustment is changed by the operator. In the same manner the foot plate I2 maybe raised to the next step in the front ends of the extensions I9 and 20 or may be raised to its extreme angular position in which the lugs 33 and 34 rest upon the forward end portions of the top edges of the extensions I9 and 20.

When it is desired to lower the foot plate I2 to its lowermost position relative to the conventional pedal I I the foot plate is moved somewhat forwardly by heel pressure against the heel end thereof, moving the lugs 33 and 34 forwardly of the front ends of the extensions 22 and 23 whereupon the sprin I5 will pull the foot plate I2 down until the lugs 33 and 34 rest upon the surface of the portion I6 of the member ID at the front ends of the extensions 22 and 23. From this lowermost position the foot plate I2 may be raised to any desired position of angular adjust ment in the manner indicated above.

The improved attachment is of extremely simple and inexpensive construction having only seven different parts including the nuts for the pins I4 and I5, is easy to install by merely threading the nuts upon the screw threaded portions of the corresponding clamping pins, and is extremely easy to adjust to any desired operating position even when the vehicle to which it is applied is in motion.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is shown in th drawing and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An accelerator pedal attachment comprising a base plate attachable to the heel portion of an accelerator pedal, a foot plate having a heel portion pivotally connected to said base plate, a resilient tension member operatively connected between said base plate and said foot plate, said base plate comprising a thin metal member having a portion shaped to overlie the heel portion of an accelerator pedal, means for clamping said base plate to the accelerator pedal, a pair of upstanding extensions disposed one along each longitudinal edge of said pedal overlying portion and having stepped notches at corresponding ends thereof, said foot plate comprising a thin metal core member and a covering therefor, a pair of depending extensions at one end of said core member fitting between said extensions on the base plate and having elongated apertures therein and projecting lugs engageable in the stepped notches in said upstanding extensions to retain said foot plate in different postions of angular adjustment relative to a supporting accelerator pedal, said clamping means including an element passing through said base plate and said foot plate and pivotally connecting the same.

2. An accelerator pedal attachment comprising a base plate attachable to an accelerator pedal, a foot plate pivotally connected to said base plate, a resilient tension member operatively connected between said base plate and said foot plate, said base plate comprising a member having a portion shaped to overlie an accelerator pedal, means for clamping said base plate to an accelerator pedal, and an upstanding extension disposed on said base plate and having stepped portions, said foot plate comprising a core member and a covering therefor, a depending extension on said core member fitting said extension on the base plate member and having elongated apertures therein and projecting lugs engageable in the stepped portions in said base plate extensions to retain said foot plate in different positions of angular adjustment relative to a supporting accelerator pedal.

3. An accelerator pedal attachment comprising a base plate attachable to an accelerator pedal, a foot plate pivotally connected to said base plate, a resilient tension member operatively connected between said base plate and said foot plate, said foot plate comprising a thin metal core portion of resilient material and a covering of rubber-like material, said core portion having at one end thereof a pair of oppositely disposed depending extensions having elongated apertures therein and projecting lugs engageable by said base plate to retain said foot plate at said various positions of angular adjustment.

4. An attachment for a foot operated throttle control for an automobile engine comprising a member constructed to be clamped to a conventional accelerator pedal and having a pair of spaced upstanding portions at corresponding ends thereof having stepped portions, a foot plate pivotally secured to said member and having a pair of lugs engageable with the stepped portions of said upstanding portions, means carried by said member for securely fastening said member to an accelerator pedal, and tension means operatively connected to said member and said foot plate operative for exerting reara0 wardly and downwardly directed pull on said foot plate.

5. An accelerator pedal attachment comprising a base plate attachable to an accelerator pedal, a foot plate pivotally and slidably connected to said base plate, stepped abutments on said base plate, means on said foot plate selectively engageable with any one of said abutments upon slidable and pivotal movement of said foot plate relative to said base plate whereby the angular relationship between said plates may be varied, and resilient means connecting said plates for holding said means inengagement with said abutments.

6. An accelerator pedal attachment comprising a base plate attachable to an accelerator pedal, a foot plate pivotally and slidably connected to said base plate, stepped abutments on said base plate, means on said foot plate selectively engageable with any one of said abutments upon slidable and pivotal movement of said foot plate relative to said base plate whereby the angular relationship between said plates may be varied,

resilient means connecting said plates for hold-' ing said means in engagement with said abutment,v and a laterally extending projection on said foot plate engageable by the shoe of an operator whereby the foot plate may be conveniently moved to engage said means with another of said abutments.

HOUSTON B. RODD.

REFERENCES CITED I The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name I Date 1,157,140 Anderson Oct. 19, 1915 1,213,826 Bloom Jan. 30, 1917 1,468,571 McGinley Sept. 18, 1923 1,733,854 Bailey Oct. 29, 1929 2,123,299 Gibbons July 12, 1938 

